Broom construction.



W. E. HOCKETT.. BROOM CONSTRUCTION. APPLICATION FILEDYOCT- I5. 1914.

Patented Jan. 22, 1918.

WITNESSES.-

IN V EN TOR:

A TTORNE Y.

. larly FEED TATE PATENT @FETQE.

WALTER E. I-IOCKETT, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOB, T0 RICE MANUFAC- TUBING 00., OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

BROOM CONSTRUCTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 22, 1918.

Application filed October 15, 1814. Serial No. 868,736.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER E. Hocnn'rr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Broom Construction, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to the type of broom that is composed of a brush and abroom-stick or handle, more especially that type in which the brush portion is formed of paniculate stems of so-called broom-corn bound together and to the broom-stick, the invention having reference more particuto means for binding the stems together and to the broom-stick.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved broom of the above-mentioned character that shall be so constructed as to be adapted to withstand rough usage, and to be cheaply manufactured; another object being to provide inexpensive but very strong brooms that shall be adapted more particularly for use in shops or factories, warehouses, or anywhere out of doors without being liable to suffer through lack of care. A still further object is to provide improved broom construction of such character as to permit the manufacturing operations to be performed largely by machinery in arapid and economical manner, and so that the stems of the broom-corn shall be compactly and securely bound together; a specific object being to provide a broom of such construction that the binder for the stems shall be securel locked to the head of the brush portion of the broom.

With the above-mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in an improved band or binder, and improved means for securely locking the band or hinder to the other essential elements of the broom; and the invention consists further in the novel parts, and in combinations and arrangements of parts, as hereinafter particularly described and further defined in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings,-Figure 1 is an elevation of abroom constructed substantially in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of an improved band for bridling the brush portion of the broom; Fig. 3 is a section on the line A. A on Fig. 1; Fig. 1 is a section on the line B B on Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a plan of the blank of which the head band is formed, or a plan view of the band flattened out; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section of the broom; Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing locking devices and the relative arrangement thereof whereby the head band is secured and locked to the stems of the broom-corn and to the broom-stick; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of fastening device; and, Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the head band partially formed.

Similar reference characters on the different figures of the drawings indicate like elements or features of construction.

The improved broom comprises a broomstick 1 of suitable length, on one end portion of which is arranged a suitably formed brush portion 2, preferably composed of branches of paniculate stems 3 that form the head portion of the brush arranged in a bunch about one end portion of the broomstick and securely bound to it by an improved metallic band composed of sheet metal of liberal width, to embrace and cover a substantial portion of the paniculate stems. The band comprises a middle main portion a having nail holes 5 and 5 to receive securing nails 6 which are driven into the broom-stick 1 opposite which the middle portion of the band is arranged. On one side of the middle portion two slots 7 and 8 are punched so as to be on a longitudinal line, two other slots 9 and 10 being punched so as to be on a parallel longitudinal line,

all the slots extending transversely of the band, the slots 7 and 9 being on one transverse line, the slots 8 and 10 being on another transverse line nearer to the middle portion of the band. On the opposite side of the plane of the holes 5 and 5 four other slots 7, 8, 9 and 10 are punched in similar arrangement to those first described. Beyond the slots the metal is bent so as to constitute crooks or clasp portions 11 and 12 that extend about the narrower portions of the bunch of stems and over toward the opposite side of the broom-stick, the metallic plate having other slots 13 and 14: arranged on a longitudinal line, and similar slots 15 and 16 on a parallel longitudinal line, the slots being near one end portion 17 of the plate, similar slots 13, 1 1', 15, 16, being punched near the opposite end portion 18 of the plate. The slots 13 and 14 are arranged farther apart from the slots 15 and 16 than the space occupied by the slots 7 and 9. Two nail holes 19 and 20 are punched in one end portion 17 on a longitudinal line near one side edge of the band, other nail holes 21 and 22 being similarly punched near the opposite edge. Other nail holes 19 and 20 are punched in the opposite end portion 18 near one edge, similar holes 21 and 22 being punched near the opposite edge of the plate. The end portion 17 is bent on a transverse line between the holes 19 and 20 so as to form an external hook 23, the opposite end portion 18 being bent between the holes 19 and 20 so as to form an internal hook 24, the hooks being interlocked opposite the broom-stick and forcibly pressed together so as to form a seam and bring the nail holes 19 and 20, 19 and 20, all in register so as to receive a nail 25 which is driven through them and into the broom-stick, another nail 25 being similarly placed in the remaining holes and likewise driven, so that the nails driven into the opposite portions of the broonrstick effectually prevent the latter from turning or rotating in the pack of paniculate stems of broom-corn.

For the purpose of securely holding the head. portions of the brush stems together and also preventing the longer side portions of the band from bulging or being forced apart, improved fastening and locking devices are provided which comprise their plates 26 and 26, each being flat and rectangular in plan, one plate having two brads or legs 27 and 28 formed on opposite edge portions thereof, and at right-angles to the plate, that are inserted through the slots 7 and 8, the plate having two other brads or legs 29 and 30 similarly formed also on the edge portions and inserted into slots 9 and 10 respectively, the brads being at the corners of the plate, each brad extending toward the opposite portion of the band. The corresponding plate 26 likewise has brads 27, 28, 29, 30, thereon inserted respectively in the slots that are provided on the opposite side of the middle portion of the band. Each brad or leg is broader in one direction than the other, so as to correspond to the slots, is tapered, its body portion is slightly curved transversely, and it has a flat point portion. Two'other devices are provided that comprise similar plates 31 and 31 which are slightly longer in one direction and preferably shorter in the transverse direction than each plate 26 or 26, the plate 31 preferably being oblong and having two brads 32 and 33 on one end portion of its opposite longer edges and two similar brads 34 and 35 on opposite end portions of the longer edges, the arrangement being such that the brads 32 and are inserted in the slots 13 and 14 re spectively, the brads 34 and 35 being inserted in the slots 15 and 16 respectively so as to avoid interference with the brads that are on the plate 26. Thus the brads 27 and 29, for instance, are nearly on the plane of the brads 32 and 34 and between the brads. The plate 31 has similar brads 32, 33, 34, 35, thereon that are inserted in the remaining slots provided to receive them near the end portion 18 of the band. The plates 26 and 31 are each'pressed closely on the exterior of the band and stiffen it while conwhich has the two brads 27 and 28 on its shorter edges respectively and'adapted to enter two slots, as 7 and 8, or 13 and 14. The brads or legs are forced through the bunch of broom-corn from one portion to the opposite portion of the band, said oppos I site portion causing the points of the brads to be turned over and backward as hooks 37 and 38 engaging the broom-corn which, as will be understood, is pressed together compactly and permits the brads to be locked therein.

Preferably a narrower metallic'band is placed about the broom-corn, either as auxiliary to the head band or as a bridling band, and it comprises a flat main portion 39 secured by means of a nail 40 to the broom-stick 1 in case the latter extends into the band, the metallic plate of which the band is composed being bent to constitute clasping portions 41 and 42 from which extend end portions 43 and 44 provided with interlocked hooks 45 and 46 arranged opposite to the main portion of the band and secured by means'of a nail 47 to the -broom-stick if the latter is available. The

main portion 39 has suitable apertures 48, 48, therein, and flat tapered brads49, 49', are formed of the metal plate by punching the metal from the apertures, the brads being forced into the bunch of broom-corn, and may be sufiiciently long to extend to the opposite portion of the band which has also apertures 50 and 50 therein and also brads 51 and 51 forced into the broomcorn, the brads preferably being sufficiently" long so as to be turned over against the opposite portion of the band to form hooks 53, that engage the stems of the broomcorn and retain the band in position while holding the broom-corn compactly together.

It should be understood that, while only two'bands are illustrated as being sufficient for describing the invention, it is obvious number of bands required or debe employed in the manufacture of each broom, and obviously the bands and securing devices may be variously modified as indicated, the larger or heavier brooms preferably being more strongly constructed than the smaller sizes.

In practical use the improved broom is handled in the customary manner for sweeping or brushing, and owing to the stiffness of the connection of thebroom-corn with the broom-stick the broom is well adapted to give long and efficient service. Nhen the brush portion has become worn away to considerable extent the lowermost band or bands may be forcibly removed so that the broom straws will be more flexible and spreading as is desired.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a broom, the combination with a band, and a bunch of paniculate stems embraced by the band, of a plurality of securing devices comprising each a flat sheetthat any sired may metal plate and brads extending from the plate at right angles thereto, the plate being on the band and the brads extending through the band and into the bunch of stems, each brad having a broad body portion that is curved transversely, the point portion of the brad being flat.

2. In a broom, the combination with a band, and a bunch of paniculate stems embraced by the band, of a pair of securing devices comprising sheet-metal staples with their longitudinal symmetrical axes at right angles to each other and oppositely arranged on the band with the points or brads of one Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the staple located between the points or brads of the oppositely disposed staple, the points or brads extending through the band and into the bunch of stems, each point or brad having a transversely-curved body portion.

3. In a. broom, the combinbtion with a band, and a bunch of paniculate stems embraced by the band, of a pair of securing devices on opposite sides of the band, each device comprising an oblong fiat plate and brads whose longitudinal symmetrical axes are at right angles to each other, the plates of the pair of devices differing in plan dimensions and being arranged relatively with the brads of the smaller plate located between the brads of the oppositely disposed larger plate of the devices, the brads extending through the band and into the bunch of stems.

4. In a broom, the combination with a band having apertures therein, and a bunch of paniculate stems embraced by the band, of pairs of flat rectangular plates arranged on the opposite outside portions of the band, the opposite edges of the plates having brads thereon that extend at right angles to the plates and through apertures of the band and into the bunch of stems, the brads of one of the pair of plates being located between the brads of the oppositely disposed plate of the pair.

In testimony whereof, I aliix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WALTER E. HO CKETT.

Witnesses E. T. Srnvrus, M. E. SPARROW.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

